HOME GUARD

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 36, 1 April 1942, Page 5

HOME GUARD

<|» COMPULSORY ENROLMENT EVERY ABLE-BODIED MAN A complete outline of the ■Scheme in which compulsory enrolment in the Home Gaurd is to be carried out was given yesterday by the Minister of National Service, the Hon. R. Semple. He recalled that by a recent amendment to the National Service Emergency Regu- " lations, authority was now given to the Minister of Nat ion ail Service to direct any class or classes of reservists to apply for enrolment in the Home Guard, andl to the Director of National Service to call up for compulsory service iany reservist who* is a member of a class or classes covered by the Minister s ord'er. In explaining the basis of the scheme, Mr Semple said: "The Army Department will advise the National Service Department of the number of men it requires in each district for service in the Home Guard to bring the local units up to strength. The Minister will thereupon issue an order, and under Regulation 338 of the National Service Emergency Regulations defining the classes of men to be called and the locality over which enrolment is to take placc. Enrolment forms will be available at post offices. After the Minister's order has been Issued reservists will have 14 days within which to enrol. The enrolment forms arc to be to the secretary of the nearest Manpower Committee, who will forward | to each reservist an acknowledgment slip, which should be retained as evidence that the reservist lias duly carried out his obligations under the regulations. Selection committees will be set up in each locality to> deal with all applications for enrolment. Particular attention in selecting a man will be paid to his occupation, and whether or not lie would be normally available in the event of general mobilisation and also to the position he holds in the emergency reserve corps. The medical standard required for service in the Home Guard will be very much lower than that for the territorial force, but generally speaking every aisle-bodied man will he required for service.